This document from British Ropes Ltd in Rutherglen is addressed to James Bank & Sons at their Perth address. Written in December 1945, it was in the early days of Banks getting his sea salmon fishing business on the Isle of Skye up and running and before he had an office in Portree. The galvanized mild steel wire strand was to be shipped 'Per: - Passenger Train'. Goods would go to Kyle of Lochalsh on the train then on to Portree by steamer.

West Highland Salmon Fisheries Co Ltd
In 1944 James Banks & Sons, Perth bought the sea salmon fishing lease for the Kilmuir Estates, Skye from A Powrie & Co, and formed the West Highland Salmon Fisheries Co Ltd to operate the lease. The company continued until 1962 when it was sold to Kenneth Matheson, Portree.

When Banks and Sons took over the lease there were fishing stations at Lealt, Rigg (Borreraig), Staffin, Portree, Camustianavaig, Balmeanach and Brochel Castle (on Raasay). In 1956, Balmeanach and Camustianavaig merged to become the Braes station, with three men employed, while the others usually had four-man crews. The company employed about 28 men each year with jobs being offered to the same men each season before new workers were hired.

The season began late April/early May and ran through to the end of August. Several men were also employed during the winter months to take ice down from the dam at Sluggans for storage at the ice house at Portree harbour. Each crew member would receive a contract with information on wages, proposed bonus scheme and work hours and were provided with oilskins and rubber boots.

The catch was divided into salmon, grilse and trout, with grilse numbers being the highest. The total annual catch was approximately 3000 fish in the late 1940s and early 1950s. A record high of nearly 10,000 fish were caught in 1957.

This image may be available to purchase.
For further information about purchasing and prices please emailSkye and Lochalsh Archives

You can easily find other resources by selecting any combination of the following attributes:

Find more like this

Please select the attributes you wish to search for. Fields are empty where there is no data.

For guidance on the use of images and other content, please see the Terms and Conditions page.High Life Highland is a company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland No. SC407011 and is a registered Scottish charity No. SC042593

1940s

Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre

David Banks: West Highland Salmon Fisheries Co Ltd (documents)

This document from British Ropes Ltd in Rutherglen is addressed to James Bank & Sons at their Perth address. Written in December 1945, it was in the early days of Banks getting his sea salmon fishing business on the Isle of Skye up and running and before he had an office in Portree. The galvanized mild steel wire strand was to be shipped 'Per: - Passenger Train'. Goods would go to Kyle of Lochalsh on the train then on to Portree by steamer.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>West Highland Salmon Fisheries Co Ltd</b><br />
In 1944 James Banks & Sons, Perth bought the sea salmon fishing lease for the Kilmuir Estates, Skye from A Powrie & Co, and formed the West Highland Salmon Fisheries Co Ltd to operate the lease. The company continued until 1962 when it was sold to Kenneth Matheson, Portree. <br />
<br />
When Banks and Sons took over the lease there were fishing stations at Lealt, Rigg (Borreraig), Staffin, Portree, Camustianavaig, Balmeanach and Brochel Castle (on Raasay). In 1956, Balmeanach and Camustianavaig merged to become the Braes station, with three men employed, while the others usually had four-man crews. The company employed about 28 men each year with jobs being offered to the same men each season before new workers were hired. <br />
<br />
The season began late April/early May and ran through to the end of August. Several men were also employed during the winter months to take ice down from the dam at Sluggans for storage at the ice house at Portree harbour. Each crew member would receive a contract with information on wages, proposed bonus scheme and work hours and were provided with oilskins and rubber boots. <br />
<br />
The catch was divided into salmon, grilse and trout, with grilse numbers being the highest. The total annual catch was approximately 3000 fish in the late 1940s and early 1950s. A record high of nearly 10,000 fish were caught in 1957. <br />
<br />
<br />
This image may be available to purchase.<br />
For further information about purchasing and prices please email<br />
<a href="mailto: skyeandlochalsh.archives@highlifehighland.com ">Skye and Lochalsh Archives</a>